PUPILS from nine schools around Dorset took part in a challenge to encourage females to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Organised for the fourth year by the Soroptomist International Bournemouth, the STEM Challenge is held, says, Penny Bartlett from the Soroptimists, to 'promote participation and raise aspirations in industries that young women often see as masculine.'

Each team from schools in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch who took part in the challenge had to come up with a product which would help people in the poorest parts of the world, which was then showcased at Bournemouth University.

Penny said: "The girls rose to the challenge and had some brilliant ideas, well-executed projects and interesting models. The winners of the Year 8 Challenge were Talbot Heath School with their project, The Atoms, and the Year 9 winners were from Highcliffe School with their project, Water Filtration."

The prizes of £250 to the school of each of the two winning teams was presented by Cllr Chris Mayne, the Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth, and £50 to each team member.

She said that all of the competitors received a certificate to show that they had participated in the task and had achieved the British Science Bronze CREST award, which recognises achievement in STEM-based subjects.

Local company Aish Technologies Ltd sponsored the CREST awards and the judges were sponsored and supplied by Procter and Gamble, Sembcorp, Bournemouth Council, Bournemouth Water, RNLI, Cobham and Dan Storey Landscaping.

Penny said that the university's students acted as ambassadors for science, technology, engineering and maths and gave the schoolgirls a tour around the academic facilities.

The girls also heard messages from Rt Hon Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Education, Roma Agrawal, Structural Engineer on the Shard and Margaret Emsley, a civil engineer and the current president of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland.